Gar-axle-box lid



(No Model.)

G. W. MORRIS.

CAR AXLE B0X LID.

No. 379,712. Patented Mar. 20, 1888.

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GEORGE XV. MORRIS, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAR-AXLE-BOX LID.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,712, dated March 20, 1888.

Application filed November 23, 1887. Serial No. 255.984.

T 0 (MZ whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. MORRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Oar-Axle-Box Lids, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention is directed to the improve ment of the spring-lid for covering the opening in the face of the journal-box of car-axles, and for permitting access to the axle for oiling and for inspection.

The object of my improvement is to provide for holding the lid closed and permitting it to be opened by the simplest construction and application of the spring thereto, so that the lid may be iitted to its pintlehinges and to the face of the journal-box before the function of the spring is rendered active, and by which I obtain a lighter and more durable cover, in which the particular improvement resides in the simple and effective provision for applying the spring to the outer face of the lid, as illustrated in thc accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is the blank for the lid. Fig. 2 is the lid formed complete for application to the face of the box and to receive and hold its spring. Fig. 3 shows the lid and its holdingspring in proper relation. Fig. 4 shows the spring. Fig. 5 shows a vertical section of so much of a journalebox as illustrates the use of my improved spring-lid when in closed position, and Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the spring-lid in open position for access to the journaLbox.

A represents the shell of thejonrnal-box, having the usual face-openings, a b, to receive the journal and for access to the box for oiling and inspection. As the lid is often open for the hasty inspection of the condition of the journal and its lubricant, it is important that it should be light and easily opened and closed. For this purpose I make the lid B of thin sheet-steel or other suitable metal stamped out in blank, as shown in Fig. 1, with corner edge projections, c c, to form pintle hinge eyes or scrolls, a lower edge projection, d, to form a handle, a loop, e, punched out so as to stand up from its outer face, and a punched- (No model.)

out slot, f, the loop and the slot being in a middle line. The journal-box has a rounded projection, g, at its top, provided with a horizontal opening made to register with lideyes to receive the pintle h, which forms the .hinge for the lid. The spring C is a narrow plate of steel of suitable thickness, and has a right angled lip, t', formed at one of its ends, adapted to fit into the slot in the lid. The spring is applied to the lid by slipping its plain end up under the loop before the lid is hinged and litted to the box; but the spring is only thus partially applied. After the lid is hinged and fitted to the box, then the spring is driven up from its lower angle-lip end through the loop until the spring-lip reaches and is forced by the tension of the spring into the slot in the lid and holds it fast. In this position the upper end of the spring will pass over and bear upon a curved top part of the box over the hinge between the pintle-hingeforming eyes of the lid, so as to give a sufticient tension to the bearing end of the spring upon the top of the box to hold the spring firmly and closely1 down upon the open face of the box. The spring is thus secured without rivets and permits the easy opening and closing of the lid. The lip of the spring and the loop of the lid secure the spring as permanently as if riveted together, greatly simplify the construction, and reduce the labor and cost of applying both the lid and its spring.

An important advantage of my improvement is the provision by which the spring is driven to its locked position in the lid by simply driving the spring endwise in place, so as to render the looking action automatic by the force of the spring acting in a direction at right angles to that in which it is driven home. The spring is thus automatically locked endwise and secured from lateral displacement.

I prefer to form the spring-confining loop integral with the lid; but it may be a separate attachment thereto. When the lid is open, the spring acts to hold it in such position.

I claiml. An axle-box lid stamped out of sheetsteel, with a raised cross-loop and a cross-slot stamped therein, and a plate-spring having a right-angled end and fitted within said loop IOO and Within said slot, combined with an axleslot formed therein, as describe, ami asprng box having a top bearing for said spring, Subhaving a right-angled end adapted to be driven stantially as set forth. into the lid-slot, as and for the purpose stated. 2. In combination with an axle-box, a lid In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my 5 having the loop and the slot, and a spring hand in the presence 'of two subscribing wit- I 5 having a right-angled end, whereby the spring nesses.

may be locked to the lid by an endwisedriven GEORGE MORRIS. movement, substantially as set forth. Witnesses:

v 3. The combination, with an axle-box, a lid PATRICK CASTILLE,

Io having the pintle-hinge eyes, the loop and the JOHN BURNS. 

